Heir of Dragons and Beasts Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 21 hours ago, Benice said: "Ah! You too are a fan of the delicate incitracies of the elder arts? I thought that this day would never come! Tell me, what is your opinion on Karthurstian's dissertation, 'Arablalagalagalazek's laws and their corelation with the principles considered normal?' Regardless, you may well be more qualified than me for the dark tome. I have, after all, only fought with them forty-two times, despite all of my experince reading them. It was Masked forty-one times, and my wife the other. But I don't really want to talk about that last one; I thought she was breaking into our house." " Yeah, I only know a bit of dark magic but I'm still learning maybe you could teach me sometime.. But I guess you can use the tome of darkness, Consider this a gesture of gratitude from me!" Noelle replied back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benice Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 2 hours ago, PeonyofLeosa Dreamworld said: " Yeah, I only know a bit of dark magic but I'm still learning maybe you could teach me sometime.. But I guess you can use the tome of darkness, Consider this a gesture of gratitude from me!" Noelle replied back. "Thank you for your kind gesture, milady. I will defend all of you with my life." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengaius Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 “Alright then, Shar-lee-main, if I'm sayin that right, now that we're all armed and acquainted, what's the first order of business? I still think Pool is a good destination, but you seem to be the leader guy, so, where to?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 (edited) She is certainly so... haughty, Karen thought at the conversation between Noelle and Cantus. I guess it is a good thing he seems too engrossed in scholarly pursuit to the point of distraction, she noted, after seeing the latter had either ignored or failed to notice the former had more or less insulted him. Or not... she could almost sweat-drop when he revealed he almost confused his wife with a trespasser. That didn't sound too comforting when he was going to be among them now. In another context, she could've found the entire exchange perhaps amusing. Currently, though, it failed to be so. To distract herself, she took note on the queries to Charlemagne about their exact path. "I must say, I am also curious to know which will be our route," she spoke up. After all, considering the artifact was between Origin and Bastion, it was equally possible they'd go through the mountain range, or the lake, when it came to crossing Ivory. "Personally, I hope it will be through the Ivory Lake." Edited March 12, 2020 by Acacia Sgt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 A little smile twitched on Charlemagne's lips. People seemed to be getting along somewhat, which was...well, it certainly wasn't a bad thing. Better than any alternatives. First, he turned to Karen. "Could I send things back where you came from? Hm..." He put a hand to his chin and scratched at a clean face. "A blind warp over that distance would require a magical force of about...then precision of location is, uh..." Finally, he looked up and replied. "No, I'm afraid that couldn't be done practically." Next, Charlie puffed out his chest and did his best to project his voice to the group at large. "Karen and Butter have suggested we take time to establish a base here. I am of the opinion that we should proceed directly towards the artifact." "The route I had planned to take was largely in a straight line, keeping to the rough terrain where possible. It would lend us some cover against our enemies. It would then take us between the northern edge of the Ivory Lake and the mountains, and then once again in a straight line towards the artifact's location. That is my recommendation...if, uh, there are no additional strong opinions or objections." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benice Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 2 hours ago, Acacia Sgt said: "Personally, I hope it will be through the Ivory Lake." Does that mean if we go to pool that you'll dip? Cantus spoke up politely, slowly trailing off into more strange stories about himself. "That indeed seems like a well-thought out plan. I fully agree with it. My wife and I have always loved the scenery around there. Ahh, I remember the two of us, sitting in front of ivory lake, looking into each other's eyes romantically. It was a perfect moment, until some masked caught us off guard and tried to murder us by throwing us off the cliff. I hope we have an experience like that again someday." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Karen sighed at Charlemagne's response. So much trying to assure my family that I am fine, she thought, dejected. However, her disappointment was short lived, as she perked up hearing they would be passing by the Ivory Lake. Perhaps... there is a chance, she thought, more hopeful now. "Well, with that route, Bastion would not be that big of a detour," she said. Chances may still be slim; but if there is a way to send a message back to Bight as soon as possible, they will be highest in Bastion, she thought. It was worth the shot. When Cantus began to talk about the lake, she listened up. First enjoying it, almost wistful even... which then came to an abrupt halt due that last part. "You mean just the first part, right?" She asked him, wanting to make sure. "In any case, that certainly sounds lovely." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir of Dragons and Beasts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 (edited) Noelle was happy that they were taking a safe route she didn't feel like fighting at the moment she sighed in relief, she thought about how she wasn't the only one with family and how comforting it was to know Karen and Cantus had someone they cared about. " Well, I guess this is where our journey begins huh girl?", she asked her wyvern Anthiese who roared back in response. " Alright, let us be en route to this relic then" She replied to the group. Noelle hoped that she would make it to see Micah, Mako, and Aelin She wanted to teach Mako how to ride a wyvern and teach Aelin how to use magic She told Charlemagne whispering into his ear " You better not get us all killed." Edited July 26, 2020 by PeonyofLeosa Dreamworld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulWeaver Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Interesting group, Toki thought. I think I'm going to like the scholar. Pity the other two probably have husbands. "Straightest shot sounds fine to me. If we're going to take risks it might as well be now, before the stakes get too high, so I think we can detour to Bastion to send any messages people need, as well as check for better supplies, weaponry, potentially even more allies...better our hand, to use a gambler's term. After that, though, we may want to avoid unnecessary contact with towns or villages, else we may inadvertently lead the Masked to assault innocent people." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benice Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 31 minutes ago, SoulWeaver said: If we're going to take risks it might as well be now, before the stakes get too high, so I think we can detour to Bastion to send any messages people need, as well as check for better supplies, weaponry, potentially even more allies...better our hand, to use a gambler's term. After that, though, we may want to avoid unnecessary contact with towns or villages, else we may inadvertently lead the Masked to assault innocent people." "On the topic of gambling, hopefully our desicion to alow me to use the dark tome will pay off in spades." Cantus chuckled, Hopefully we can find my wife. She'll be worried if I'm gone for this long during our honeymoon. He thought to himself, but maintaining his calm front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengaius Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Ugh, Bastion, sounds awful, Butter thought. I hate going into the old Cardinal territories, means I'll have to shave, not to mention I'll have to use Pa's last name, stupid Cardinal customs. Hmm, that Charlemagne looks to have a bit of a light beard, he'll have to shave too, being the leader and all. “Bastion sounds great!" Butter said with an enthusiasm that he did not feel. “Stopping there would let us better prepare for the mountains" “Oh, and since gambling has found its way into the conversation, I got a deck of cards on me if anybody wants to play whenever we stop our marches. Speakin' of, we should probably get a move on, the sun is a good bit higher than what it was when we got here." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 "I do wonder what putting much stock on chance will be now," Karen commented. "With us going against Nortia, it seems." Then Butter brought up about playing cards. "I think I will pass on that," she then said. She wasn't one for gambling. However, the mention of having something to pass the time had made her realized she had nothing for the sort herself. If only I had kept a tighter grip on my book before being taken by that tentacle... she could almost sigh in dismay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Charlemagne clasped his hand together with a clap. "Well then, I suppose it is decided. We shall depart posthaste, and baring any complication, and stop by Bastion during our journey." 13 hours ago, PeonyofLeosa Dreamworld said: She told Charlemagne whispering into his ear " You better not get us all killed." "I'll, uh...do my best?" *** He pointed off towards a river nearer the horizon. "Westward is that way. There is a creek which we'll need to cross a bridge to...hm.. oh my. Excuse me for one moment." Charlemagne vanished in a beam of light, only to reappear atop the plateau in another. He ran his hand through his hair and soon after warped himself back to ground level. "You all have your weapons sorted, correct? It appears some unpleasant creatures have stumbled upon our location." Charlie opened his bag and was handed a pair of vials. "I have two vulneraries. Please decide who among you will take them, and then...take your battle stations?" *** Preparations: Distribute 2 Vulneraries Objective: Route Enemy stats found in the "Enemy" section of the spreadsheet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Enemy stats may also be accessed from inside the following spoiler tag: Spoiler Name Class Position Level HP Str Mgc Skl Spd Lck Def Res Weapons Skills Rev1 Monster (4 Move) C5 1 20/20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Claw Rev2 Monster (4 Move) D8 1 20/20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Venemous Claw Bael Monster (5 Move) B2 1 25/25 6 0 3 2 0 6 1 Claw Skel1 Monster (5 Move) B9 1 18/18 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow Skel2 Monster (5 Move) D11 1 18/18 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow, Iron Lance Snag 50/50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulWeaver Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 "Oh, on the contrary, miss Karen." Toki chuckled. "Chance has absolutely nothing to do with Nortia, we'll be just fine. Hm?" Following Charlemagne's revelation, he frowned. "Now, this is why I said we needed to hurry deciding our course. You folk take the Vulneraries, I'll snatch the Bronze Sword and Axe quick and open this play." -<Assuming I don't need to use the Convoy and assuming Toki is the Lancer below the Knight, move two squares down and four squares left, then attack the Snag with the Javelin. If I do need to access the Convoy, which I assume is with Charlemagne, move one square up and two squares right, then access Convoy and withdraw Bronze Sword and Bronze Axe. Correct me if I mistake my guess.>- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir of Dragons and Beasts Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 "Let me obliterate them all, they ruined my beauty sleep!" " Cantus, lets go!; you said you'd protect me!" <Noelle can pair up with Cantus for now> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengaius Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 “I'll make a start towards that bridge" Butter moves to I6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benice Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 "Is that a Bael I see? I've been wanting to analyze their exoskeletar structure for years now!" Cantus to K6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Is she not considered to be behind the concept of luck? Karen thought. She had planned to voice the thought, until Charlemagne revealed a more pressing matter. "Oh Philotes..." Karen whispered, at hearing there was already danger nearby, making her tighten her grip on the staff. She wasn't keen on having to face danger so soon. Or at all. Unlike most if not all of the others, she was not experienced to this sort of thing. Yet, she knew she'd have to help out. She may not fight; but had other ways to contribute. With the staff in her hands; and her... "Huh?" She was snapped back at attention at hearing Butter stating he'd go straight for the bridge the Patron mentioned. Does he plan to prevent the creatures from crossing? She thought. Barring wading the creek, the bridge was essentially a choke point, from the sound of it. It might be as good an idea as any. However... Will he arrive before them, though? She wondered. She wasn't fully sure. Therefore... "Wait!" She called out, before heading after him. He soon stopped. Had he heard her? In any case, Karen catch up to him. Though before she could speak, she first recovered her breath. This is something I am going to end up getting used to, she thought. In any case... "You might need some help reaching the bridge before they do," Karen said; "and I have just the thing." She then brought a hand to her throat and cleared it. Then, she began to sing. No actual song came out. Perhaps it was more accurate to say she was emulating music with her voice. She just sang a few notes; but it was all needed to work its literal magic... [Karen moves to I-7 and Sings to Butter. EXP +11!] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengaius Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 “Hmm, I'm not sure what singing can do, per... Wow, unreal. My gosh. This is amazing! I feel incredibleee! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I CAN WIN! I FEEL GREAT! I. CAN. DO. THIS! HUAAAAAAGH. Butter to F5, Steel Lance equipped, wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 "Well," Charlemagne coughed. "You all seem to have control of the situation, I'll let you get to your work." Player Phase Summary: Spoiler Toki to H5 Cantus to K7 Noelle to H8 Butter to I6 Karen to I7, uses Sing for Butter Butter to F5, equips Steel Lance Enemy Phase: Revenant 1 moves to E5. Revenant 1 attacks Butter using a Claw! Spoiler Butter activates Vantage! Butter attacks with a Steel Lance 20 Damage, 84 Hit, 4 Crit Hit: (17 + 81) / 2 = 49 Crit: 98 Revenant 1 takes 20 damage (0/20) *** Revenant 1 crumbles into clay dust! Butter gains 34 EXP (34/100) Revenant 2 moves to E5. Revenant 2 attacks Butter using a Venemous Claw! Spoiler Butter activates Vantage! Butter attacks with a Steel Lance 20 Damage, 88 Hit, 4 Crit Hit: (14 + 49) / 2 = 31 Crit: 34 Revenant 2 takes 20 damage (0/20) *** Revenant 2 disintegrates! Butter gains 34 EXP (68/100) Bael moves to E4 Skeleton 1 moves to E8. Skeleton 1 attacks the Snag with an Iron Bow! (38/50) Skeleton 1 moves to D9. Skeleton 2 attacks the Snag with an Iron Bow! (26/50) Player Phase Begins: As a the last puffs of zombie dust settled on the ground, the voice of Charlemagne called out across the plain. "There is one last thing I should let you all know," he called out. "With what remains of my Patron power, I can increase good fortune or make chance more volatile. Be warned, however, that these effects will apply to friend and foe alike. Furthermore, I only have enough power left to activate one effect or deactivate one effect at a time." "Let me know if you would like either put in place." With that, he made himself scarce. Alteration (Switch between 2RN and 1RN for Hit rate) and Favor (+10 luck to all units on the field) are now available! *** Spindling legs are heard rustling from the woods. Bael 2 appears at B10! Easy Reference Info: Hide contents Player characters Hide contents Name Class Affinity Level HP Str Mgc Skl Spd Lck Def Res Weapon Ranks Skills Gauge HIT AVO Karen Bianchi Infantry Light 1 16/16 0 7 5 5 7 0 6 Staff (D- 30/70) Miracle, Sing, Charm N/A 17 17 11 40% 10% 65% 50% 55% 45% 10% 45% Toki Specialist Wind 1 17/17 5 2 5 3 0 5 5 Lance (D- 30/70) Axe (E- 0/30) Sword (E- 0/30) Positioning, Fortune, Miracle, Foresight Figher N/A 10 6 0 50% 25% 25% 35% 20% 100% 30% 30% Butter Milkslad Armor Steel 1 26/26 9 0 4 2 4 8 6 Lance (C- 78/120) Bow (D- 30/70) Vantage, Obstruct, Wary Fighter N/A 12 8 68 70% 50% 10% 50% 20% 25% 45% 45% Cantus Armor Thunder 1 19/19 5 8 7 8 3 4 3 Tome (D- 30/70) Shadowgift, Fortune, Celerity N/A 17 19 0 60% 15% 75% 40% 50% 0% 40% 35% Noelle von Altyna Wyvern Steel 1 19/19 2 6 6 5 4 3 3 Staff (D- 30/70) Tome (E- 0/30) Vantage, Shadowgift, Lady of Status N/A 16 14 0 50% 20% 60% 30% 50% 40% 20% 45% Enemies Spoiler Name Class Position Level HP Str Mgc Skl Spd Lck Def Res Weapons Rev1 Monster (4 Move) -- 1 DEAD 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Claw Rev2 Monster (4 Move) -- 1 DEAD 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Venemous Claw Bael1 Monster (5 Move) E4 1 25/25 6 0 3 2 0 6 1 Claw Skel1 Monster (5 Move) E8 1 18/18 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow Skel2 Monster (5 Move) D9 1 18/18 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow, Iron Lance Bael2 Monster (5 Move) B10 1 25/25 6 0 3 2 0 6 1 Claw Snag 26/50 Weapons Hide contents Name Rank Uses Might Hit Crit Range Weight wEXP Description Swords Iron Sword E 45 5 95 0 1 4 1 A simple blade forged from iron Steel Sword D 35 9 80 0 1 11 2 A hearty blade of tempered steel Silver Sword B 25 13 85 0 1 9 2 An elegant blade made of silver Wyrmslayer C 25 9 95 0 1 7 2 Effective against dragon units, solid all around Lances Iron Lance E 45 7 85 0 1 6 1 A simple lance with an iron tip Steel Lance D 35 11 70 0 1 13 2 A hefty lance with a steel tip Silver Lance B 25 15 75 0 1 11 2 An elegant lance with a silver tip Javelin D 25 6 60 0 1-2 11 1 Designed to be thrown Axes Iron Axe E 45 9 75 0 1 8 1 A common axe with an iron head Steel Axe D 35 13 60 0 1 15 2 A mighty axe with a steel head Silver Axe B 25 17 65 0 1 13 2 An elegant axe with a glimmering silver head Hand Axe E 25 8 50 0 1-2 11 1 Designed to be thrown Bows Iron Bow E 45 8 90 0 2 5 1 A common bow made of wood and iron Steel Bow D 35 12 75 0 2 12 2 A heavy bow made of wood and steel Silver Bow B 25 16 80 0 2 10 2 An elegant bow made of wood and silver Tomes Wind E 40 2 100 0 1-2 0 1 Introductory Wind magic Fire E 40 4 95 0 1-2 2 1 Introductory Fire magic Thunder D 40 6 85 10 1-2 3 2 Introductory Thunder magic Flux D 40 7 70 0 1-2 4 2 Dark magic, WTA against elemental tomes Monster weapons Claw N/A N/A 7 80 -- 1 8 N/A A monster's claw Venomous Claw N/A N/A 6 60 -- 1 10 N/A Poisons targets struck Fang N/A N/A 5 90 15 1 4 N/A A monster's sharp teeth Evil Eye N/A N/A 7 70 0 1-2 6 N/A Dark magic concentrated through an evil gaze Effectiveness EXP Staves Heal E 30 Mgc +10 1 11 2 Restores HP to an adjacent ally Mend D 20 Mgc +20 1 17 3 Greatly restores HP to an adjacent ally Torch D 8 N/A M/2+1 20 5 Lights up a dark or foggy area Recover C 15 N/A 1 23 4 Fully restores HP to an adjacent ally Physic C 15 Mgc +15 M/2+1 27 5 Restores HP to a distant ally Items Hide contents Name Uses Effect Consumable Items Bitter Herb 2 Heals 10 HP when used, can be distilled into more potent healing items Vulnerary 3 Heals 15 HP when used Elixir 3 Heals all HP when used Antidote 3 Heals poison when used Seraph Robe 1 Max HP +6 Strength Drop 1 Strength +2 Spirit Dust 1 Magic +2 Secret Book 1 Skill +3 Speedwing 1 Speed +2 Nortia Icon 1 Luck +4 Draco Shield 1 Defense +2 Talisman 1 Resistance +2 Skills Hide contents Name Effect Personal Skills Charm Allies within 3 tiles gain +10 Hit and +10 Evade Foresight Fighter This unit may changes their equipped weapon after combat. Doing so gives this unit +2 Str / Def / Res until the start of the next player phase. If this unit is then traded with by another unit, the bonus is lost. Wary Fighter This unit can neither double nor be doubled Celerity Movement +1 Lady of Status Allies within 3 tiles deal +2 damage Passive Skills Canto May use remaining movement after acting Miracle The first two battles of each map where this unit would take lethal damage, this unit survives with 1 HP or dodges if already at 1 HP Fortune Critical hit chance against this unit is always 0 Wrath Critical Hit +50 when this unit's HP is less than half of its maximum Vantage Strike before the enemy when attacked Obstruct Entering a tile adjacent to this unit costs an enemy unit the rest of its movement Escutcheon For each allied unit adjacent to this unit, this unit and all adjacent allies receive -2 damage taken Fury This unit receives +2 Strength, +2 Magic, +2 Speed, +2 Defense, and +2 Resistance, but loses 3 HP after every round of combat. Spellblade Magic +7 when using a magical sword / lance / axe / bow Shadowgift Tome users only, can use Dark Tomes Bow Range +1 Bow-locked units only, +1 maximum range with all bows Special Fighter Special Gauge begins at 30 at the start of each map Sharp Eyes Vision Range +5 in fog of war, provides additional benefits outside of maps Map Commands Sing Enables an adjacent ally who has already acted to act again this turn Thievery This unit may steal and use lockpicks Positioning May use the Swap, Shove, and Reposition commands Combat Arts Adept Costs 30 SP, immediately follow your first attack with one additional strike Cancel Costs 30 SP, prevents the enemy from counterattacking Initial Bonuses Discipline Increases initial weapon rank by 1 for all equipable weapon types Side Arm Gain an additional equipable weapon type Terrain Hide contents Terrain Foot Magic Horse Flying DEF AVO Effects Plain 1 1 1 1 0 0 Forest 2 2 3 1 1 20 Mountain 4 4 7 1 2 30 Peak 1 2 40 Fort 2 2 2 1 2 20 Heal 20% max HP at the beginning of your phase Gate / Throne 1 1 1 1 3 30 Heal 20% max HP at the beginning of your phase Cures status conditions at the beginning of your phase River 4 4 1 0 -10 Sea / Lake 1 0 -10 Desert 2 1 3 1 0 5 Settlement 1 1 1 1 0 10 Houses, shops, arenas, etc. Cliff, Fence 1 0 0 Snag, Wall, Door 0 0 Snags become Plains after breaking The Gameplay Spoiler Charlemagne has no combat ability and does not appear on the map. However, he possesses the ability to manipulate probability, and will be able to operate a Turnwheel once such an item is obtained by the party. Charlemagne can perform one manipulation each player phase. He may acquire additional manipulators as the campaign progresses. Alteration: Switch between 1 RN and 2 RN (true hit) system Favor: Luck +10 for all units *** The equations are based on the GBA games, with a few changes: Staff experience is no longer halved after promotion A unit's full luck stat is used in calculating hit, rather than just half Crit = Skill Constitution is not present in the Ruined World, so its functions have been transferred to other stats The weapon triangle provides +2/-2 Damage, rather than +1/-1 The Trinity of Magic has been removed, as there is only tome weapon type Armored units have the same movement penalties as infantry units Experience calculations are instead based on FE9 For more detailed information, please consult the spreadsheet. *** Weapon weight penalties are now calculated using Strength, as in FE9. Incurred weapon weight penalties reduce not only Speed, but Skill as well. Rescue is now class-based: Riders can rescue any other class, but cannot be rescued Armors can rescue any class besides Riders Infantry and Specialists can only rescue other infantry and specialists *** Units who have an S rank in the weapon type they are currently using gain +1 Damage, +5 Hit, and +5 Crit. Like in FE6, a unit can have multiple S ranks. Critical Hits, much like Fatal hits, provide x2 wEXP. These effects combined give x3 (rather than x4) wEXP when killing an enemy with a crit. *** Casual Mode is on, but may be turned off for your character at your discretion. *** Support level increases when two characters have made major steps in their relationship. I'll grant them at my discretion, and players can ask if they feel their characters qualify for an additional rank. Fire: +.5 Attack, +2.5 Hit Wind: +.5 Attack, +2.5 Avoid Thunder: +.5 Defense, +2.5 Avoid Light: +.5 Defense, +2.5 Hit Dark: +2.5 Hit, +2.5 Avoid Steel: +.5 Attack, +.5 Defense *** The Well Being System: Certain actions and consumables may benefit or penalize a unit's performance in the next battle. For example, eating a high class lobster dinner may provide +3 skill, +3 resistance, and +2 defense in the next battle. If you sleep in the rain, though, you have a chance of catching a cold, which might inflict penalties of -4 skill, -2 speed, and -2 luck until the character recovers. *** Assume GBA mechanics are in place unless otherwise stated. Lore Hide contents Maps This is a map of the continent of Weal as it once stood: This is a map of the continent of Weal as it stands now: The World as it Stands: Hide contents The Masked: Hide contents Feminoids wholly clad in black armor. They never tire, or hunger, or thirst. They take prisoners, even the dead and wounded of their raids, yet leave none of their own. When mortally wounded or even when captured, Masked disintegrate to the reddish powder of dry clay. Even their armor turns to dust. This has made is quite difficult to see what lies underneath their namesake ornaments. The Masked do not fight alone. Their invasion is backed by monsters, supposed to have been purged by the four goddesses during the world's formative years. The ruin they leave in their wake is patrolled by these monsters and a few squadrons of their own. Individual Masked can have vastly different combat abilities. Furthermore, hey appear to have organized into a martial hierarchy based on their intelligence. Common Masked Most of the Masked are only slightly smarter than monsters, which are themselves more mindless than most beasts. Their fighting prowess, even their ability to use magic, seems to derive more from an instinct which is not specialized for coordination. They are sometimes called the Low Masked or the Common Masked, but usually just the Masked. High Masked ??? Grand Masked ??? The Survivors: Hide contents The once great Cardinal and Auran Empires have been reduced to wastelands, always overcast and gray. After over a century of alternating between peace and war, it was a threat no one anticipated which brought about their ruin, proving too great even for their built up armies. In a desperate, panicked maneuver, the Cardinal Empire protected a small section of its territory and abandoned the rest. Only this portion remains. Emperor Phillip, merely a figurehead, operates with the nobility from a seaside inn seized by the state. It's treasonously rumored that most of Cardinal was sacrificed while public and military officials saw to their own evacuation. However, these administrators argue that broader efforts would have spread defenses impotently thin. The barbarians of the Highlands have likely been saved from the fate of the empires by their eternal shield: terrain so mountainous and heavily wooded that no army has been able to invade it. Not even the Masked seem like they are able to overcome this, nor the cunning of warriors so ferocious and familiar with the land and its many shadows. The Auran fortress of Palisade, built into a mountainside, manages to ward off the Masked and the monsters through their strategic position and the advanced technology of ballista. Rumors circulate that the city of Haven has been partially preserved by the mythological warrior Tamerlane. Scattered, nomadic remains of the original population persist. They scavenge the wastelands, hiding away from the Masked in remote fields and smoldering cities. Rings of criminals have repurposed their tactics and escape routes to meet these new challenges, and their protection rackets now face no competition from the state, yet they too live poverty and paranoia. The Emperor of the Aurans, Mithradates V, is known to have died fighting against an early incursion of the Masked. His young son Khosrau and his vizier Oborzos are unaccounted for. Another mystery is the whereabouts of the sacred treasure of the Auran Empire's ruling dynasty, a token of their proclaimed divine lineage, a relic said to be able to harness the power of the sun: the Fire Emblem. The Faith: Hide contents The world of Weal believes in a pantheon of goddess called "the four." The first day of the first year is set to their awakening. Over the next four years, they were integral in the formation of the world. Famously, they defeated a terrible monster called the Clay Dragon, whose body become the terrestrial sphere (i.e the world), and they purged the remaining monsters from the land. Each has appointed a human envoy, called a Patron. The Masked arrived in the 889th year. It is now the 897th year. A man claiming to be Charlemagne, patron of Nortia, alleges that his former master is behind the invasion. To repel the Masked, he has performed a ritual to summon powerful warriors from across the continent. He got you. The Mythos Hide contents Cosmogony Hide contents We should be content to never know what came before the four. Who may testify what came before them? The universe at first held only aether, homogeneous and chaotic. The four determined that the universe be ordered, and so split the aether into the physical arche, light, and the mental arche, mind. Light they split into mass and form, the ratios of which compose the elements, and set to govern them were Belladonna's strife and the Philotes's harmony. Mind they split into instinct and reason. From instinct, Ceres formed the vital force which animated all living things, but among them only humans posses reason. As the universe could not exist without the boundary of the Celestial Sphere, so too could reason not exist without the boundary of Nortia's mysteries. These elements were at first without balance, and from this chaos came the Clay Dragon to wage war against the four, and it cut their flesh; Yet the four overpowered it and slew it, and its body became the land, and its blood became the sea. Yet, still tainted, the remains of the Clay Dragon begat monsters, which lashed out against all other forms of creation. The blood of the four fell to the world, and begat humankind, and the four again waged war alongside humans, and drove out the monsters, and purified the waters and the soil. By the first day of the fourth year were all these accomplished, and so began the reign of humankind on Weal. *** Light, when formed, flowed endlessly from a single sphere, which was called by the four the sun. They set it between the edge of the universe and its center, to which Belladonna took, for its light was vigorous. Each day, the sun moves around the world, dragged across the sky behind the flying ship which Belladonna captained in the war against unbalance and monstrosity. The four, having made the world safe for man, then retreated from the world. They built for themselves a great sphere of silver on which to live, and placed it between the sun and the world, and the realm of its placement was the Lunar Sphere, to which Philotes took, for it was a home and a light in the night, which family and friendship are as well. -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Cosmology Hide contents ...the universe is divided into four spheres. In the center is the terrestrial sphere, which is the world on which we live, its seas and the land both... ...the lunar sphere was once empty, but leaving the terrestrial sphere to mortals, the goddesses built a great palace out of silver, that sphere which is the moon, and placed it within the lunar sphere, a realm in which to live and from which to look down and over us. This sphere rotates around the terrestrial sphere once in a period of 30 days... ...the solar sphere, where the sun, wellspring of the physical arche, which is light, is suspended...One full rotation of this sphere around the terrestrial sphere produces one full day... ...the celestial sphere is the boundary of all that is. It is on this sphere that small pieces of the sun have been placed, which are the stars. One full rotation of this sphere around the terrestrial sphere produces one full year... -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Eschatology Hide contents It is better for a man not to be born, for then he will never taste the excitement of life and yearn for it in the afterlife... ...upon death, the soul may wander the land, but may not speak with any other thing, living in total isolation, and frozen in time... ...those who die old are old in death, those who die in battle are pierced in death, but all are numb in death... So it falls on Hanno, Patron of Philotes, to gather the souls of the dead onto the flying ship in the night, and then sail them to the moon... ...souls on the moon live no more fulfilling an existence, excepting that they may speak to one another when upon the silver surface... ...but a ghost is not an inconvenience to the living whilst there... ...those who, in life, show great valor and courage, sacrificing themselves for others, may enjoy a more splendorous life in the Silver Palace of the four, yet their afterlife is no less endless and repetitive than the common man's, and as is often said, "the dead trample upon silver"... ...a woman who dies in childbirth, deemed by Philotes as having made the greatest sacrifice of self, shall live in the Silver Palace as well... -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Tetratheon Hide contents -Selection from Empedocles's Divinities The four are powerful beings credited with terraforming the barren world into a fertile realm and driving terrible monsters from it. Each is ascribed powers not only over a realm of human life, but also over one of the cosmological spheres, and is closely associated with a suite in a deck of cards. Ceres Ceres is most popular among farmers, the dominant occupation on the continent. Many mages also favor her due to her mastery of the elements. She is associated with the terrestrial sphere and the spade suite in a deck of cards, the spade being a tool for tilling the ground. Philotes Philotes is most popular among merchants, household servants, philosophers, and youths yearning for companionship. She is associated with the lunar sphere and the heard suite in a deck of cards. Belladonna Belladonna is most popular among among soldiers and mercenaries, but also among hunters and athletes. The majority of ethnic Aurans, regardless of occupation, are loyal to Belladonna. She is associated with the solar sphere and the club suite in a deck of cards, the club being a weapon of war which she is often depicted with. Nortia Nortia is not particularly popular among any one occupation, Many see her impartiality as being unconcerned with whether they worship her or not. Though the only goddess to be less popular than her patron, she finds some followers among those who live from moment to moment, submissive to their destiny or limitations. All depictions of her are veiled, and statues of her have no face underneath. She is associated with the celestial sphere and the diamond suite in a deck of cards. Hagiography Hide contents -Selection from Empedocles's Divinities Tamerlane In what is now the city of Hearth, there was a farmer named Tamerlane who took up arms to defend his city against invasion. He demonstrated unparalleled skill as a warrior and tactician, such that he was asked to become king and form a great empire. However, Tamerlane refused and instead returned to his farm, wishing for his city to retain its republican governance and peaceful ways. So noble was he that the goddess Ceres favored him, and Tamerlane became the patron of Ceres in the 87th year. He is considered the patron of the harvest, often depicted with a great scythe, and is sometimes associated with death, reaping those who have reached their time. Hanno There was once a messenger carrying mail by ship from what is now Bight to what is now Delta. A great storm ravaged the vessel he traveled on, and so Hanno pledged his unfailing allegiance to the goddesses should they rescue him. The sky soon cleared, and Hanno kept his promise, becoming a priest and religious scholar. As a reward for his integrity and commitment in keeping his oath, Philotes favored him, and Hanno became the patron of Philotes in the 174th year. After becoming patron, Hanno took the flying ship and flew to the sun. He then took small pieces from it, which he placed on the edge of the celestial sphere, thus creating the stars so that sailors could use them to navigate at night. He is considered the patron of sailors, navigators, and messengers. Theodoric Originally a brilliant metallurgist from the city of Pool, Theodoric was the first to create steel. With Pool being a crossroad between both ends of the continent and not being governed by any strong state, the secret of his technology traveled fast and made him a very rich man. Being greatly impressed by his invention, its strength and its usefulness in warfare, Belladonna favored him, and Theodoric became the patron of Belladonna in the 261st year. He is considered the patron of metal workers and craftsmen. Charlemagne The small city of Origin had a very esteemed academy, and among its minds was the mathematician Charlemagne. His work laid the foundation for game theory. He was also the inventor of card counting, but was almost beaten to death by the staff of the gambling den where he attempted to test his creation, being saved by the intervention of Nortia before he was first struck. For finding a way to "cheat" luck, Nortia favored him, and Charlemagne became the patron of Nortia in the 348th year. He is considered the patron of good fortune. His popularity is fair among most groups, but mathematicians and gamblers seem to favor him more than most The Nations, as They Once Were Hide contents Geography Hide contents Mount Night A dormant volcano located within the Cardinal Empire. It last erupted in the 381st year, when it ejected so much smoke and ash that everything for miles was bathed in darkness. The Ivory Mountains A mountain range which divides the Cardinal Empire to the west and the Auran Empire to the east, named for the stunning white sides of its peaks. This natural fortification has never been pushed past by a power from the east until the invasion of the Masked. Though several passages exist through the mountains, the Cardinal Empire kept them well guarded, and it was by sailing around the mountains that the invasion of Cardinal began. While the Imperial Cardinal Navy would normally have prevented this, much of the nation's might was pulled back to guard the major cities. Afterwards, the Masked flooded the west and conquered the passages, allowing their numbers to pour through fully. Ivory Lake A lake which divides the Ivory Mountains into two. Invaders have tried to cross into Cardinal through this lake, though a small fleet long fended off such attempts. When it had the authority to do so, the Cardinal Empire taxed merchants who shipped goods across the lake. This tax was often paid, as it was easily the quickest trade route between the city of Pool and the Cardinal Empire. After the invasion of the Masked, their crude ships are most all that sails across this small sea. It is fed from the Ivory Mountains, for which it is named. The Ivory River A river which drains the Ivory Lake into the sea, passing by several major cities of the Cardinal Empire along the way. This granted it similar importance in shipping to its source lake. Lake Quell A massive lake in the center of the continent. It served an important role in trade, with ships delivering cargo from one end to the other, saving days and even weeks of travel time. Wars have been fought over control of the lake for this reason. The Helices A pair of mountain ranges which encompass a great river valley. It serves as an impending obstacle to those trying to move quickly along Lake Quell. In the north, its peaks eventually give way to the impenetrable mess of wood and mountain known as the Highlands. The River Vale A river located between the two ranges of the Helices. Fed by the melted snow of the mountains and feeding into Lake Quell, the river served an important role in the shipment of goods from the northeast before the invasion of the Masked ended almost all trade. The Cardinal Empire Hide contents The empire which held the lands west of the Ivory Mountains. Though it was ruled by an emperor, power gradually and long ago shifted to the Oligarchy, a council of statesmen appointed by the governors of major cities to represent their interests. Diverse in its religion and cultures, these territories were united primarily by military conscription and a vague body of imperial law. Cardinal The former capital of the Cardinal Empire and the city for which it was named. The city's own name derives from its city square, where a large fountain lies in the center of four gigantic temples, each dedicated to one of the four goddesses and pointed in a different cardinal direction. Nortia's lies to the south, Philotes's to the east, Ceres's to the north, and Belladonna's to the west. Folk tales say the temple of Belladonna is placed either so as to be as far from the Auran peoples as possible, or so that its entrance always faces them. In all likelihood, neither is true, as these temples predate extensive contact between Cardinal and the Aurans. Origin A small city whose academy, the University of Origin, has trained many of Weal's greatest scholars. In addition to holding an extensive library, the city once tried to conquer the lands west of the Ivory Mountains in the 357th year. Their assault was halted at Cardinal, who then adopted the idea as their own, eventually forming the Cardinal Empire. Despite their military failure, Origin would go on to produce some of the most influential statesman and advisers of the empire's history, and remained a prominent center of learning until the invasion of the Masked. Bight An important trade hub and the makeshift capital of what remains of the Cardinal Empire. It lies next to Mount Night, whose volcanic soil has long produced rich harvests. As the destruction of Cardinal continued, more and more of its army retreated further and further, surrendering most of the land in fear. Bight now commands half of what Cardinal's army was before the invasion, a strong enough number to hold off the Masked along natural fortifications. Lode To the south of the mainland Cardinal Empire lies Red Clay Isle. Named for the red clay which most of its soil consists of, this island holds great mineral wealth. In the 820th year, Lode was established as a colony to oversee mining operations on the island. Bastion Located along the shores of Ivory Lake and against the side of the Ivory Mountains, Bastion served as a central component of the Cardinal Empire's border defense ever since said borders reached the mountains. In its prime, it was equal parts encampment and city. Its massive stone barracks held so many soldiers that supplying their needs was sufficient to generate a thriving economy, for both private enterprises and those hired by the state to supply equipment. The Auran Empire Hide contents A shared ethnic identity is not often a strong concept in Weal, found mainly among one group of peoples. These are the Aurans, native to the lands east of Lake Quell and south of the Helices. Their community is derived from a shared belief in their descent from Belladonna, goddess of war. The idea of a single Auran nation dates back to at least the 101st year, but this dream was only made a reality by the conquests of Medes I, who unified the various Auran city states into an empire, and whose own descendants would expand that empire to include "Vulgar Bloods," those who are not ethnically Auran and therefore have no divine blood. The Auran Empire had more consistent governance than the Cardinal Empire, and a more consistent culture as a result. The empire's promotion of Belladonna throughout its lands made her popular even among non-Aurans. Centuries of conquests forged a diverse empire. Differing peoples and religions have traditionally been tolerated, even if not entirely advantaged. Though the empire's elite maintain that a descendant of Belladonna should be over all the people of Weal, it has been very common for vulgarbloods, especially conquered monarchs, to be brought into the imperial bureaucracy. Even before the unification, Auran peoples banned slavery and animal sacrifices. The monarchy of these early city states, seeing themselves as divinely appointed due to their purer blood, engaged in an uncomfortable amount of incest to "preserve" the godliness in their bloodline. While slavery and blood sacrifices are still outlawed, the inbreeding was phased out a few generations after unification, and is now just something the Auran nobles would like you to forget about. Vulgarblood was once a slur. It was phased out, and then brought back into the common lexicon as a generally inoffensive slang. It is rarely used or taken as seriously derogatory outside of a few small sects, respectively Auran ethno-nationalists or adamant anti-Aurans, who sometimes adopt it as a title of pride. Burnish The former capital of the Auran Empire. It was considered a small and insignificant city state of backwards idiots before Medes I, Twelfth King of Burnish, launched a military campaign which united the Auran peoples and declared himself the First Emperor of the Aurans. His descendants continued to rule, sometimes nominally, from his original palace until the invasion of the Masked. Patronage brought many great thinkers to the city, though it was always overshadowed by the cultural significance of Hearth. Hearth In the 101st year, a small tribal kingdom began raiding its neighbors, capturing their people as slaves, and throwing them into a great fire as a sacrifice to Belladonna. It is said that Belladonna found this so appalling that she descended from the heavens and commanded it to be stopped. The Auran peoples obliged her, and have not kept slaves or made blood sacrifices since that day, or so the story goes. As a symbol of their dedication, the people of Hearth have kept that great fire burning through the centuries. This is the hearth for which the city is named, and it was once guarded by over a hundred soldiers every hour of the day so that miscreant children would not throw rats or bugs into it. During its prime, it was the undisputed capital of Auran culture, attracting many of its finest artists, scholars, and architects. Though many imperial building projects aimed to bring glory to Burnish, and did, Hearth always demanded the greatest attention and investment. Its strategic location at the mouth of the River Vale and on the shores of Lake Quell granted it extreme commercial importance, with numerous craftsman utilizing raw materials from upstream. Before the conquests of Medes I, it had been assumed that any attempt to unify the Aurans would spring forth from Hearth. Haven Named for its extremely defensible location, surrounded by the Helices and the River Vale. Its people lived primarily as farmers and shepherds, producing raw materials that were sent downstream to Hearth. However, it was much harder for finished goods to travel upstream to Haven, so only a small number of merchants truly reaped the benefits of this trade. Though a small city, Haven is larger than the numerous small villas which dot the River Vale's course, the security of its walls attracting many. Delta Formerly an important center of commerce located directly south of Lake Quell. Though mountains separate it from the heartland of the former Auran Empire, naval power allowed the unsuspecting city to be conquered early in the Empire's life, with its high hills and marshes keeping it a defensible asset up until the invasion of the Masked. Countless rivers drain from Lake Quell and the surrounding mountains, entering the sea in a delta which the city is built along and named for. Before the invasion, the upstream territories produces bountiful harvests which were exported across the continent, including absurd quantities of rice. Pool Pool existed as an independent city state until the 780th year, when it was forcibly turned into a client state of the Cardinal Empire. It was then conquered by the Aurans, taken by Cardinal, reconquered by the Auran Empire in the 861st year, and then overrun by the masked. Pool has always been pulled upon and influenced by numerous outside states, due to its location near the center of the continent. This has been a weakness as well as a strength, with the city becoming an important center for trade. Perhaps more important is how its central location brought together people from all nations, their ideas mixing together and the resulting innovations quickly spreading across the continent. Palisade Built into a cliff overlooking Ivory Lake, Palisade is a marvel of engineering and served as the Auran Empire's main defense on the Cardinal border. Not only beautifully decorated, it is so well defended that even the Masked could not overtake it, though its soldiers have been largely contained within the fortress by a ceaseless siege. It was famous for its ballista, which allowed the defenders to remain high above their enemies while still detracting from their numbers. It was commissioned during the third Auro-Cardinal War with the intention of intimidating the Cardinal Empire with both its invulnerability and the beauty of its statues and reliefs. The Great Gate Located on an island to the south of the former Auran Empire's heartland. The isle was conquered almost as an afterthought and was the most ignored province due to geographical separation and low strategic importance. The Masked now control it, but its population was always sparse, consisting mainly of native villagers, temporary pilgrims, and shrine keepers. The Gate has no ritual importance, but is still considered a sacred landmark, as it is said to be how the goddesses move between the moon and the terrestrial sphere. The Highlands Hide contents Writing and temples never took off in the Highlands- for every thousand Highlanders, maybe one will be able to read or write. Having produced very few records of themselves, Highlanders are seen as a mysterious people in a mysterious land. Though the Auran Empire completely surrounded the region, it was deemed too mountainous and too heavily wooded to conquer or administer, and so was left alone while nominally being claimed as a part of imperial territory. The most common speculation about them is perhaps the most truthful- the people live simple, traditional lives in small, isolated villages and tribes. Every ancient practice seems to be maintained by at least one group of Highlanders, including the primitive act of slave raids, though most towns have settled into a lazy peace with each other. Criminals and anarchists often flee the state's punishment or overbearing authority and go to live in the Highlands, and are very often accepted if they are not too disruptive to the extremely traditional ways. Though full temples are uncommon, piety is still found among the Highlanders. Shrines can be found in the center of towns and at the top of hills, and most villagers are dedicated to a single goddess. Patrons, like temples and writing, never became very popular in the Highlands. The Nations on Each Other Hide contents The following is from a letter written by an Auran merchant who sold sold rice in Cardinal during a time of peace: I know that mother has been very worried about the influence of these foreign customs on my well-being. Let her be assured that I remain strong in my faith to Mother Belladonna. These Cardinals are certainly an odd folk, though. Ask one what his people are, and he responds with his city or his family, few of the peasants even know the name of their emperor. Their names are formed in a peculiar way, to allow them to have more than one. Each person has a given name, but also a family name after that, which comes from their father. Some have yet more names following that- married women have the family name of their husbands, the wealthy have the name of their estate. They treat drink as a sort of taboo among their children, but are exceedingly indulgent with it among their friends. They drink no beer and become drunk only from the vine. It is often mulled with spices or sweetened with honey- It escapes my mind how anyone can handle so much of such a rich drink, but perhaps they cannot, for many among them become so drunk during festivities as to throw up all they consume. This lechery, I theorize, is why the men shave their faces, so they neither have to clean their beards nor refrain from such indulgence. Few have more than a week's growth, and some have taken such offense at my beard as to call me barbaric and dirty for having it. Speaking of wine, I have seen in my travels people who pour wine as well as oil as a libation before every meal, and others who have never made an offering at a temple after many years of life. There seems to be only zealots or atheists among them, and all of them unfaithful in their worship. Even those who do not follow Philotes make their marriage vows under her moon, even if they are supposed followers of Belladonna, who gives them the sun under which to make contract. Their meals are far too heavy, and lacking in spice or zest. A good lemon cannot be found in this place. Their citrus fruits are small, and hard, and bland. The following journal entry was made by a Cardinal mercenary who fought for Auran monarchy during the Auran Civil War: They are truly a quaint people, quite amusing in their dullness. Each of them has a name ending in "S." They do not notice this. Point it out to one of them, and they will neither believe you nor be able to disprove you. They only have one name, even in their census. Should that one name not be specific enough, as is often the case, they specify with the name of their father or husband or town- a proper family name would do them wonders, but they seem to think the idea an unnecessary and preposterous one. Their appearances are in such disrepair, whatever attractiveness might be found in their faces is hidden by the dust they too rarely wash off and the hairs they never shave, only trim to what they hilariously call a "reasonable" length. They manage to make drink boring- they sip at beer throughout the day, but never at wine, and even their young boys and girls do this, yet never do any of them seem to get drunk. You would at least think such a number of such devout Belladons would have exciting wars, but they are so stoic about it that I'm surprised they don't fall asleep in battle! It is that, not Belladonna's favor, that I suspect is the reason they only fight during the day. Even the vigor of noble Belladonna they seem to forgo to emphasize her role as mother of their people, having her put away the club for the mother bird's perch. Speaking of Belladonna and mothers, I find it novel that they hold their marriages during the day, under her sun, excepting those few Philoteans among them, who do so properly under the moon. How unfitting, since they seem incapable of having their blood boil enough to have a proper war between husband and wife- the women are so demure, no spunk! Even their dancers, talented beauties though they be, are as dry as boards left in the sun. That reminds me of an odd quirk of their food, besides their eating so many damned lemons and limes and oranges. Instead of making a proper bread, the cooks for the army just make dough, and leave it to the soldiers to cook it by stretching it across an iron shield and placing it on the fire. It has a nice, chewy texture, but they often ruin it with an overabundance of toppings. Lamb and beef and beets and carrots and cheese and pineapples all at once, the one time something of theirs would benefit from their plainness! No humor! Oh, my best jokes go over their heads like the arrows of the rebels! Religious Practice Hide contents In addition to spiritual responsibilities, priests serve as healers, and provide food to the poor and teaching to the illiterate. Most temples are organized about a large, candlelit prayer chamber. Since temples are found primarily in cities, those living in rural areas make fewer visitations bearing larger offerings. They might also utilize wayside shrines or traveling priests. Cardinal lets religious practice be handled at a local level. Priests live off of offerings, and the Cardinal army conscripts religious offices. They consider animal sacrifice the most sincere and sacred sort of offering. The Auran Empire took a more active role in its peoples' religion. The emperor served as head of the church and had the oft-deferred power of appointing important positions within it, and all priests had to undergo standardized certification. Though tolerant of other creeds, the Aurans see themselves as descendants of Belladonna and thus promoted her worship especially. The state built temples to Belladonna and offered tax cuts to those who gave to them. Clergymen in her service received a fixed wage from the empire, though they could also accept offerings. Traveling priests were often paid to patrol certain routes, and martial priesthood was a viable profession. The Auran Empire strictly prohibited animal sacrifice, though very few Auran priests are vegetarians. Patrons do not have temples, only shrines, which are sometimes found in a temple of their associated goddess. Animal sacrifices are almost never made to a Patron. Most people will follow one entity throughout their life, usually the one who most benefits their profession. As most people inherit their parents' trade, they also inherit their faith. To beseech multiple goddesses and patrons is not unheard of, but is considered improper and excessive, with one exception: servants of Ceres might also serve Tamerlane, seeing them as working together to produce and harvest bountiful crops. Shrines to Tamerlane are more commonly found in temples to Ceres compared with other patron-goddess pairs. Additional Information: Hide contents The Auro-Cardinal Wars and Related Historical Events Leading to the Present Hide contents 793rd Year- The Auran Empire under Mithradates II, called "the Iron Emperor," completes its conquests of the lands north of Lake Quell and east of the Ivory Mountains. This is the inevitable moment in which their lands now border those of the Cardinal Empire, which controls the city of Pool and other lands west of the lake. Tensions immediately arise between the two expansionist powers. 796th Year- The First Auro-Cardinal War breaks out after an attempt by the Auran Empire to enforce taxes on Cardinal vessels traveling Lake Quell. 801st Year- A peace treaty is signed in which the Cardinal Empire gives up claims to the lands north of Ivory Lake. 827th Year- The Second Auro-Cardinal War breaks out following the Cardinal Empire seizing control of plains settlements lost during the First Auro-Cardinal War. 834th Year- A peace treaty is signed, granting the Cardinal Empire restored control over territory lost in the First Auro-Cardinal War, as well as all lands west of Lake Quell. 836th Year- The embarrassment of the Auran Empire's defeat, combined with mounting taxes, drought, and an increasingly corrupt and obtuse aristocracy, lead to the outbreak of the Auran Civil War. With many of both the local nobles and the peasantry siding against the monarchy, the emperor is short on men, but refuses to higher mercenaries from Cardinal. 837th Year- Emperor Arses dies in battle against the rebels and is usurped by his young son Mithradates IV the Great. His military and domestic reforms are countless, but included hiring Cardinal mercenaries who had fought against the emperor only a few short years ago. The young monarch manages to reestablish order and some semblance of prosperity. 860th Year- An aging Mithradates IV takes advantage of a complacent Cardinal Empire and initiates the Third Auro-Cardinal War. 868th Year- After five years of the front being frozen along the Azure Mountains, a worn down Cardinal Empire declares peace with the Auran Empire, surrendering all land east of said mountains. Important Historical Figures Hide contents Archelaus (???-???): Nothing is known about him what Empedocles quoted him as saying. He seems to have been a follower of Nortia and was likely contemporary to Empedocles, but it's hard to say for certain. Empedocles (???-381): His birth year is unknown, but he was in his fifties when he died. He was a young man when Charlemagne was appointed Patron of Nortia, and was inspired by this historic event to record the religious traditions of Weal. The result of years of travel and research was Divinities, a codex considered the definitive source of religious history. Though the original copy is lost, it is the oldest work whose text is preserved in Weal. Empedocles was a follower of Philotes and a vegetarian, based on posthumous accounts which mocked him for these things and his death. He was a native of Bight, which was a mere town during his lifetime. He refused to evacuate when Mt. Night erupted, believing Philotes would protect him. He died on that day. The traditional model of morality, as outlined in Divinities, includes four virtues, each associated with a specific goddess. Ceres is compassion, Belladonna is courage, Nortia is impartiality, and Philotes is loyalty. Only by having all four of these virtues, as well as the fifth virtue of piety, can one be considered moral. Roswitha(505-566): A monk who lived near what is now Palisade. She codified many later religious traditions and popularized many theological stances, though her work is considered less definitive than Divinities. Smaller contributions of hers include finalizing the associations between card suites and deities (which are not mentioned in Divinities) and determining the ship Hanno's ship to be Belladonna's. She also worked on a controversial ethical quandary, the Question of Perfection. The Question of Perfection asks why the Four are to be venerated when they embody only one virtue and why piety is virtuous if none of them are pious. The idea behind the classical virtues was that they were good because their association with a goddess, so this question was of some importance. Roswitha put forward the idea that being moral meant displaying one virtue and venerating the goddess associated with it, which has achieved moderate popularity among progressive practitioners of hermeneutics. Controversially among the Aurans, she argued that each daughter of Belladonna had a different father Terrence the Atheist (547-607): A playwright from Cardinal. His heretical beliefs cost him a promising career in civil service, so he turned his education and writing talent to the stage. Despite his disbelief in religious traditions, Terrance was an arch-conservative who blamed religious reinterpretation for the the degradation he perceived in society. Odes (750-797): A religious scholar and ambassador from the Auran Empire who produced the Standard Auran Texts. These are the most recent and comprehensive versions of religious history which were used by the Auran government. Though the events are largely the same as in Divinities, Odes felt it necessary to produce an account which properly credited Belladonna, unlike the Cardinal-derived texts that had been standard up to that point. According to Odes, Belladonna best embodied each of the four classical virtues. Compassionate and impartial because she remained to aid humanity and could love a human. Loyal by her motherhood and devotion as a wife to one man. In writing the Standard Auran Texts, Odes made very clear that Belladonna's four daughters had one father. He named this man Oxin and standardized the naming of his daughters by Belladonna, the traditions of which varied from region to region. Aura, the divine light (universally agreed upon) Pyre, the light of fire (fairly common throughout the empire at that point) Luster, the sheen of gold and silver (fairly common throughout the empire at that point) Tempest, the light of lightning (still somewhat of a contested pick) Odes was ambassador to the Cardinal Empire leading up the First Auro-Cardinal War. He was executed for failing to secure a peaceful arrangement between the two nations. Though the war would end up being successful for the Auran Empire, there initially great skepticism about fighting an equally powerful nation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benice Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) "This will be a fine chance to observe a wild Bael in its natural habitat!" Cantus to G6, stops to take notes. After listening to Karen's melodic voice, Cantus was inspired to keep moving forwards. "Hmm...Fangs of 56.9 centimeters, green poison- Oh good golly, it's attacking us! I'm sorry, specimen, but you're not getting past ME!" Cantus attacks Bael 1 with Flux tape. Edited March 19, 2020 by Benice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousSpeed Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 Player Phase: Cantus moves to G6 Karen moves to G7, uses Sing for Cantus, Karen gains 11 EXP (22/100) Cantus moves to G4. Cantus attacks Bael 1 using Flux! Spoiler Cantus attacks 14 Damage, 97 Hit, 7 Crit Hit: (51+56)/2 = 53 Crit: 72 Bael 1 takes 14 damage (11/25) *** Cantus continues! 14 Damage, 97 Hit, 7 Crit Hit: (79+37)/2 = 58 Crit: 59 Bael 1 takes 14 damage (0/25) *** Bael 1 return to the soil! Cantus gains 34 EXP (34/100) Noelle moves to E9. Noelle attacks Skeleton 2 using Fire! Spoiler Noelle attacks 10 Damage, 100 Hit, 6 Crit Crit: 71 Skel2 takes 10 damage (8/18) *** Noelle gains 12 EXP (12/100) Butter moves to E7. Butter attacks Skeleton 1 using a Steel Lance! Spoiler Butter attacks 19 Damage, 80 Hit, 4 Crit Hit: (80+56)/2 = 68 Crit: 2 Butter deals a critical blow to Skeleton 2! Skeleton 2 takes 57 damage (0/18) *** Skeleton 2 is instantly vaporized. Butter gains 34 EXP (102/100) -> (2/100) Butter gains a level up! Spoiler HP up! Strength up! Magic up! Skill up! Defense up! Toki moves to D7. Toki attacks Skeleton 2 using a Javelin! Spoiler Toki attacks 10 damage, 64 hit, 5 crit Hit: (70+70)/2 = 70 The javelin flies past Skeleton 2 (8/18) *** Skeleton 2 counters with an Iron Bow 7 damage, 90 hit, 0 crit Hit: (24+91)/2 = 57 Toki is nicked by an arrow (10/17) *** Skeleton 2 continues! 7 damage, 90 hit, 0 crit Hit: (10+83)/2 = 56 Toki is struck by another arrow (3/17) *** Toki gains 12 EXP (12/100) Enemy Phase: Skeleton 2 stays at D9. Skeleton 2 attacks Toki with using an Iron Bow! Spoiler Skeleton 2 attacks 7 damage, 90 hit, 0 crit Hit: (69+52)/2 = 60 Toki takes an arrow to the knee (0/17) *** Toki is incapacitated! Bael 2 moves to E8. Bael 2 attacks Noelle using a Claw! Spoiler Noelle activates Vantage! Noelle casts Fire 9 damage, 100 hit, 6 crit Crit: 80 Bael2 takes 9 damage (16/25) *** Bael2 attacks using a Claw! 10 damage, 68 hit, 0 crit Hit: (52?35)/2 = 43 Noelle takes 10 damage (9/19) *** Noelle counters 9 damage, 100 hit, 6 crit Crit: 54 Bael2 takes 9 damage (7/25) *** Noelle gains 12 EXP (24/100) Player Phase Begins: Howling and the gnashing of teeth sound from the east and the west. Two Mauthe Dogs appear! Easy Reference Info: Hide contents Player characters Hide contents Name Class Affinity Level HP Str Mgc Skl Spd Lck Def Res Weapon Ranks Skills Gauge HIT AVO Karen Bianchi Infantry Light 1 16/16 0 7 5 5 7 0 6 Staff (D- 30/70) Miracle, Sing, Charm N/A 17 17 22 40% 10% 65% 50% 55% 45% 10% 45% Toki Specialist Wind 1 OUT 5 2 5 3 0 5 5 Lance (D- 31/70) Axe (E- 0/30) Sword (E- 0/30) Positioning, Fortune, Miracle, Foresight Figher N/A 10 6 12 50% 25% 25% 35% 20% 100% 30% 30% Butter Milkslad Armor Steel 2 26/27 10 1 5 2 4 9 6 Lance (C- 84/120) Bow (D- 30/70) Vantage, Obstruct, Wary Fighter N/A 14 8 2 70% 50% 10% 50% 20% 25% 45% 45% Cantus Armor Thunder 1 19/19 5 8 7 8 3 4 3 Tome (D- 36/70) Shadowgift, Fortune, Celerity N/A 17 19 34 60% 15% 75% 40% 50% 0% 40% 35% Noelle von Altyna Wyvern Steel 1 19/19 2 6 6 5 4 3 3 Staff (D- 30/70) Tome (E- 3/30) Vantage, Shadowgift, Lady of Status N/A 16 14 24 50% 20% 60% 30% 50% 40% 20% 45% Enemies Hide contents Name Class Position Level HP Str Mgc Skl Spd Lck Def Res Weapons Rev1 Monster (4 Move) -- 1 DEAD 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Claw Rev2 Monster (4 Move) -- 1 DEAD 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Venemous Claw Bael1 Monster (5 Move) -- 1 DEAD 6 0 3 2 0 6 1 Claw Skel1 Monster (5 Move) -- 1 DEAD 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow Skel2 Monster (5 Move) D9 1 8/18 4 0 3 3 0 3 0 Iron Bow, Iron Lance Bael2 Monster (5 Move) E8 1 7/25 6 0 3 2 0 6 1 Claw Dog1 Monster (6 Move) C4 2 17/17 5 0 9 10 0 2 0 Claw Dog2 Monster (6 Move) L7 7 20/20 6 0 11 13 0 3 1 Fang Snag 26/50 Weapons Hide contents Name Rank Uses Might Hit Crit Range Weight wEXP Description Swords Iron Sword E 45 5 95 0 1 4 1 A simple blade forged from iron Steel Sword D 35 9 80 0 1 11 2 A hearty blade of tempered steel Silver Sword B 25 13 85 0 1 9 2 An elegant blade made of silver Wyrmslayer C 25 9 95 0 1 7 2 Effective against dragon units, solid all around Lances Iron Lance E 45 7 85 0 1 6 1 A simple lance with an iron tip Steel Lance D 35 11 70 0 1 13 2 A hefty lance with a steel tip Silver Lance B 25 15 75 0 1 11 2 An elegant lance with a silver tip Javelin D 25 6 60 0 1-2 11 1 Designed to be thrown Axes Iron Axe E 45 9 75 0 1 8 1 A common axe with an iron head Steel Axe D 35 13 60 0 1 15 2 A mighty axe with a steel head Silver Axe B 25 17 65 0 1 13 2 An elegant axe with a glimmering silver head Hand Axe E 25 8 50 0 1-2 11 1 Designed to be thrown Bows Iron Bow E 45 8 90 0 2 5 1 A common bow made of wood and iron Steel Bow D 35 12 75 0 2 12 2 A heavy bow made of wood and steel Silver Bow B 25 16 80 0 2 10 2 An elegant bow made of wood and silver Tomes Wind E 40 2 100 0 1-2 0 1 Introductory Wind magic Fire E 40 4 95 0 1-2 2 1 Introductory Fire magic Thunder D 40 6 85 10 1-2 3 2 Introductory Thunder magic Flux D 40 7 70 0 1-2 4 2 Dark magic, WTA against elemental tomes Monster weapons Claw N/A N/A 7 80 -- 1 8 N/A A monster's claw Venomous Claw N/A N/A 6 60 -- 1 10 N/A Poisons targets struck Fang N/A N/A 5 90 15 1 4 N/A A monster's sharp teeth Evil Eye N/A N/A 7 70 0 1-2 6 N/A Dark magic concentrated through an evil gaze Effectiveness EXP Staves Heal E 30 Mgc +10 1 11 2 Restores HP to an adjacent ally Mend D 20 Mgc +20 1 17 3 Greatly restores HP to an adjacent ally Torch D 8 N/A M/2+1 20 5 Lights up a dark or foggy area Recover C 15 N/A 1 23 4 Fully restores HP to an adjacent ally Physic C 15 Mgc +15 M/2+1 27 5 Restores HP to a distant ally Items Hide contents Name Uses Effect Consumable Items Bitter Herb 2 Heals 10 HP when used, can be distilled into more potent healing items Vulnerary 3 Heals 15 HP when used Elixir 3 Heals all HP when used Antidote 3 Heals poison when used Seraph Robe 1 Max HP +6 Strength Drop 1 Strength +2 Spirit Dust 1 Magic +2 Secret Book 1 Skill +3 Speedwing 1 Speed +2 Nortia Icon 1 Luck +4 Draco Shield 1 Defense +2 Talisman 1 Resistance +2 Skills Hide contents Name Effect Personal Skills Charm Allies within 3 tiles gain +10 Hit and +10 Evade Foresight Fighter This unit may changes their equipped weapon after combat. Doing so gives this unit +2 Str / Def / Res until the start of the next player phase. If this unit is then traded with by another unit, the bonus is lost. Wary Fighter This unit can neither double nor be doubled Celerity Movement +1 Lady of Status Allies within 3 tiles deal +2 damage Passive Skills Canto May use remaining movement after acting Miracle The first two battles of each map where this unit would take lethal damage, this unit survives with 1 HP or dodges if already at 1 HP Fortune Critical hit chance against this unit is always 0 Wrath Critical Hit +50 when this unit's HP is less than half of its maximum Vantage Strike before the enemy when attacked Obstruct Entering a tile adjacent to this unit costs an enemy unit the rest of its movement Escutcheon For each allied unit adjacent to this unit, this unit and all adjacent allies receive -2 damage taken Fury This unit receives +2 Strength, +2 Magic, +2 Speed, +2 Defense, and +2 Resistance, but loses 3 HP after every round of combat. Spellblade Magic +7 when using a magical sword / lance / axe / bow Shadowgift Tome users only, can use Dark Tomes Bow Range +1 Bow-locked units only, +1 maximum range with all bows Special Fighter Special Gauge begins at 30 at the start of each map Sharp Eyes Vision Range +5 in fog of war, provides additional benefits outside of maps Map Commands Sing Enables an adjacent ally who has already acted to act again this turn Thievery This unit may steal and use lockpicks Positioning May use the Swap, Shove, and Reposition commands Combat Arts Adept Costs 30 SP, immediately follow your first attack with one additional strike Cancel Costs 30 SP, prevents the enemy from counterattacking Initial Bonuses Discipline Increases initial weapon rank by 1 for all equipable weapon types Side Arm Gain an additional equipable weapon type Terrain Hide contents Terrain Foot Magic Horse Flying DEF AVO Effects Plain 1 1 1 1 0 0 Forest 2 2 3 1 1 20 Mountain 4 4 7 1 2 30 Peak 1 2 40 Fort 2 2 2 1 2 20 Heal 20% max HP at the beginning of your phase Gate / Throne 1 1 1 1 3 30 Heal 20% max HP at the beginning of your phase Cures status conditions at the beginning of your phase River 4 4 1 0 -10 Sea / Lake 1 0 -10 Desert 2 1 3 1 0 5 Settlement 1 1 1 1 0 10 Houses, shops, arenas, etc. Cliff, Fence 1 0 0 Snag, Wall, Door 0 0 Snags become Plains after breaking The Gameplay Spoiler Charlemagne has no combat ability and does not appear on the map. However, he possesses the ability to manipulate probability, and will be able to operate a Turnwheel once such an item is obtained by the party. Charlemagne can perform one manipulation each player phase. He may acquire additional manipulators as the campaign progresses. Alteration: Switch between 1 RN and 2 RN (true hit) system Favor: Luck +10 for all units *** The equations are based on the GBA games, with a few changes: Staff experience is no longer halved after promotion A unit's full luck stat is used in calculating hit, rather than just half Crit = Skill Constitution is not present in the Ruined World, so its functions have been transferred to other stats The weapon triangle provides +2/-2 Damage, rather than +1/-1 The Trinity of Magic has been removed, as there is only tome weapon type Armored units have the same movement penalties as infantry units Experience calculations are instead based on FE9 For more detailed information, please consult the spreadsheet. *** Weapon weight penalties are now calculated using Strength, as in FE9. Incurred weapon weight penalties reduce not only Speed, but Skill as well. Rescue is now class-based: Riders can rescue any other class, but cannot be rescued Armors can rescue any class besides Riders Infantry and Specialists can only rescue other infantry and specialists *** Units who have an S rank in the weapon type they are currently using gain +1 Damage, +5 Hit, and +5 Crit. Like in FE6, a unit can have multiple S ranks. Critical Hits, much like Fatal hits, provide x2 wEXP. These effects combined give x3 (rather than x4) wEXP when killing an enemy with a crit. *** Casual Mode is on, but may be turned off for your character at your discretion. *** Support level increases when two characters have made major steps in their relationship. I'll grant them at my discretion, and players can ask if they feel their characters qualify for an additional rank. Fire: +.5 Attack, +2.5 Hit Wind: +.5 Attack, +2.5 Avoid Thunder: +.5 Defense, +2.5 Avoid Light: +.5 Defense, +2.5 Hit Dark: +2.5 Hit, +2.5 Avoid Steel: +.5 Attack, +.5 Defense *** The Well Being System: Certain actions and consumables may benefit or penalize a unit's performance in the next battle. For example, eating a high class lobster dinner may provide +3 skill, +3 resistance, and +2 defense in the next battle. If you sleep in the rain, though, you have a chance of catching a cold, which might inflict penalties of -4 skill, -2 speed, and -2 luck until the character recovers. *** Assume GBA mechanics are in place unless otherwise stated. Lore Hide contents Maps This is a map of the continent of Weal as it once stood: This is a map of the continent of Weal as it stands now: The World as it Stands: Hide contents The Masked: Hide contents Feminoids wholly clad in black armor. They never tire, or hunger, or thirst. They take prisoners, even the dead and wounded of their raids, yet leave none of their own. When mortally wounded or even when captured, Masked disintegrate to the reddish powder of dry clay. Even their armor turns to dust. This has made is quite difficult to see what lies underneath their namesake ornaments. The Masked do not fight alone. Their invasion is backed by monsters, supposed to have been purged by the four goddesses during the world's formative years. The ruin they leave in their wake is patrolled by these monsters and a few squadrons of their own. Individual Masked can have vastly different combat abilities. Furthermore, hey appear to have organized into a martial hierarchy based on their intelligence. Common Masked Most of the Masked are only slightly smarter than monsters, which are themselves more mindless than most beasts. Their fighting prowess, even their ability to use magic, seems to derive more from an instinct which is not specialized for coordination. They are sometimes called the Low Masked or the Common Masked, but usually just the Masked. High Masked ??? Grand Masked ??? The Survivors: Hide contents The once great Cardinal and Auran Empires have been reduced to wastelands, always overcast and gray. After over a century of alternating between peace and war, it was a threat no one anticipated which brought about their ruin, proving too great even for their built up armies. In a desperate, panicked maneuver, the Cardinal Empire protected a small section of its territory and abandoned the rest. Only this portion remains. Emperor Phillip, merely a figurehead, operates with the nobility from a seaside inn seized by the state. It's treasonously rumored that most of Cardinal was sacrificed while public and military officials saw to their own evacuation. However, these administrators argue that broader efforts would have spread defenses impotently thin. The barbarians of the Highlands have likely been saved from the fate of the empires by their eternal shield: terrain so mountainous and heavily wooded that no army has been able to invade it. Not even the Masked seem like they are able to overcome this, nor the cunning of warriors so ferocious and familiar with the land and its many shadows. The Auran fortress of Palisade, built into a mountainside, manages to ward off the Masked and the monsters through their strategic position and the advanced technology of ballista. Rumors circulate that the city of Haven has been partially preserved by the mythological warrior Tamerlane. Scattered, nomadic remains of the original population persist. They scavenge the wastelands, hiding away from the Masked in remote fields and smoldering cities. Rings of criminals have repurposed their tactics and escape routes to meet these new challenges, and their protection rackets now face no competition from the state, yet they too live poverty and paranoia. The Emperor of the Aurans, Mithradates V, is known to have died fighting against an early incursion of the Masked. His young son Khosrau and his vizier Oborzos are unaccounted for. Another mystery is the whereabouts of the sacred treasure of the Auran Empire's ruling dynasty, a token of their proclaimed divine lineage, a relic said to be able to harness the power of the sun: the Fire Emblem. The Faith: Hide contents The world of Weal believes in a pantheon of goddess called "the four." The first day of the first year is set to their awakening. Over the next four years, they were integral in the formation of the world. Famously, they defeated a terrible monster called the Clay Dragon, whose body become the terrestrial sphere (i.e the world), and they purged the remaining monsters from the land. Each has appointed a human envoy, called a Patron. The Masked arrived in the 889th year. It is now the 897th year. A man claiming to be Charlemagne, patron of Nortia, alleges that his former master is behind the invasion. To repel the Masked, he has performed a ritual to summon powerful warriors from across the continent. He got you. The Mythos Hide contents Cosmogony Hide contents We should be content to never know what came before the four. Who may testify what came before them? The universe at first held only aether, homogeneous and chaotic. The four determined that the universe be ordered, and so split the aether into the physical arche, light, and the mental arche, mind. Light they split into mass and form, the ratios of which compose the elements, and set to govern them were Belladonna's strife and the Philotes's harmony. Mind they split into instinct and reason. From instinct, Ceres formed the vital force which animated all living things, but among them only humans posses reason. As the universe could not exist without the boundary of the Celestial Sphere, so too could reason not exist without the boundary of Nortia's mysteries. These elements were at first without balance, and from this chaos came the Clay Dragon to wage war against the four, and it cut their flesh; Yet the four overpowered it and slew it, and its body became the land, and its blood became the sea. Yet, still tainted, the remains of the Clay Dragon begat monsters, which lashed out against all other forms of creation. The blood of the four fell to the world, and begat humankind, and the four again waged war alongside humans, and drove out the monsters, and purified the waters and the soil. By the first day of the fourth year were all these accomplished, and so began the reign of humankind on Weal. *** Light, when formed, flowed endlessly from a single sphere, which was called by the four the sun. They set it between the edge of the universe and its center, to which Belladonna took, for its light was vigorous. Each day, the sun moves around the world, dragged across the sky behind the flying ship which Belladonna captained in the war against unbalance and monstrosity. The four, having made the world safe for man, then retreated from the world. They built for themselves a great sphere of silver on which to live, and placed it between the sun and the world, and the realm of its placement was the Lunar Sphere, to which Philotes took, for it was a home and a light in the night, which family and friendship are as well. -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Cosmology Hide contents ...the universe is divided into four spheres. In the center is the terrestrial sphere, which is the world on which we live, its seas and the land both... ...the lunar sphere was once empty, but leaving the terrestrial sphere to mortals, the goddesses built a great palace out of silver, that sphere which is the moon, and placed it within the lunar sphere, a realm in which to live and from which to look down and over us. This sphere rotates around the terrestrial sphere once in a period of 30 days... ...the solar sphere, where the sun, wellspring of the physical arche, which is light, is suspended...One full rotation of this sphere around the terrestrial sphere produces one full day... ...the celestial sphere is the boundary of all that is. It is on this sphere that small pieces of the sun have been placed, which are the stars. One full rotation of this sphere around the terrestrial sphere produces one full year... -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Eschatology Hide contents It is better for a man not to be born, for then he will never taste the excitement of life and yearn for it in the afterlife... ...upon death, the soul may wander the land, but may not speak with any other thing, living in total isolation, and frozen in time... ...those who die old are old in death, those who die in battle are pierced in death, but all are numb in death... So it falls on Hanno, Patron of Philotes, to gather the souls of the dead onto the flying ship in the night, and then sail them to the moon... ...souls on the moon live no more fulfilling an existence, excepting that they may speak to one another when upon the silver surface... ...but a ghost is not an inconvenience to the living whilst there... ...those who, in life, show great valor and courage, sacrificing themselves for others, may enjoy a more splendorous life in the Silver Palace of the four, yet their afterlife is no less endless and repetitive than the common man's, and as is often said, "the dead trample upon silver"... ...a woman who dies in childbirth, deemed by Philotes as having made the greatest sacrifice of self, shall live in the Silver Palace as well... -Selections from Empedocles's Divinities Tetratheon Hide contents -Selection from Empedocles's Divinities The four are powerful beings credited with terraforming the barren world into a fertile realm and driving terrible monsters from it. Each is ascribed powers not only over a realm of human life, but also over one of the cosmological spheres, and is closely associated with a suite in a deck of cards. Ceres Ceres is most popular among farmers, the dominant occupation on the continent. Many mages also favor her due to her mastery of the elements. She is associated with the terrestrial sphere and the spade suite in a deck of cards, the spade being a tool for tilling the ground. Philotes Philotes is most popular among merchants, household servants, philosophers, and youths yearning for companionship. She is associated with the lunar sphere and the heard suite in a deck of cards. Belladonna Belladonna is most popular among among soldiers and mercenaries, but also among hunters and athletes. The majority of ethnic Aurans, regardless of occupation, are loyal to Belladonna. She is associated with the solar sphere and the club suite in a deck of cards, the club being a weapon of war which she is often depicted with. Nortia Nortia is not particularly popular among any one occupation, Many see her impartiality as being unconcerned with whether they worship her or not. Though the only goddess to be less popular than her patron, she finds some followers among those who live from moment to moment, submissive to their destiny or limitations. All depictions of her are veiled, and statues of her have no face underneath. She is associated with the celestial sphere and the diamond suite in a deck of cards. Hagiography Hide contents -Selection from Empedocles's Divinities Tamerlane In what is now the city of Hearth, there was a farmer named Tamerlane who took up arms to defend his city against invasion. He demonstrated unparalleled skill as a warrior and tactician, such that he was asked to become king and form a great empire. However, Tamerlane refused and instead returned to his farm, wishing for his city to retain its republican governance and peaceful ways. So noble was he that the goddess Ceres favored him, and Tamerlane became the patron of Ceres in the 87th year. He is considered the patron of the harvest, often depicted with a great scythe, and is sometimes associated with death, reaping those who have reached their time. Hanno There was once a messenger carrying mail by ship from what is now Bight to what is now Delta. A great storm ravaged the vessel he traveled on, and so Hanno pledged his unfailing allegiance to the goddesses should they rescue him. The sky soon cleared, and Hanno kept his promise, becoming a priest and religious scholar. As a reward for his integrity and commitment in keeping his oath, Philotes favored him, and Hanno became the patron of Philotes in the 174th year. After becoming patron, Hanno took the flying ship and flew to the sun. He then took small pieces from it, which he placed on the edge of the celestial sphere, thus creating the stars so that sailors could use them to navigate at night. He is considered the patron of sailors, navigators, and messengers. Theodoric Originally a brilliant metallurgist from the city of Pool, Theodoric was the first to create steel. With Pool being a crossroad between both ends of the continent and not being governed by any strong state, the secret of his technology traveled fast and made him a very rich man. Being greatly impressed by his invention, its strength and its usefulness in warfare, Belladonna favored him, and Theodoric became the patron of Belladonna in the 261st year. He is considered the patron of metal workers and craftsmen. Charlemagne The small city of Origin had a very esteemed academy, and among its minds was the mathematician Charlemagne. His work laid the foundation for game theory. He was also the inventor of card counting, but was almost beaten to death by the staff of the gambling den where he attempted to test his creation, being saved by the intervention of Nortia before he was first struck. For finding a way to "cheat" luck, Nortia favored him, and Charlemagne became the patron of Nortia in the 348th year. He is considered the patron of good fortune. His popularity is fair among most groups, but mathematicians and gamblers seem to favor him more than most The Nations, as They Once Were Hide contents Geography Hide contents Mount Night A dormant volcano located within the Cardinal Empire. It last erupted in the 381st year, when it ejected so much smoke and ash that everything for miles was bathed in darkness. The Ivory Mountains A mountain range which divides the Cardinal Empire to the west and the Auran Empire to the east, named for the stunning white sides of its peaks. This natural fortification has never been pushed past by a power from the east until the invasion of the Masked. Though several passages exist through the mountains, the Cardinal Empire kept them well guarded, and it was by sailing around the mountains that the invasion of Cardinal began. While the Imperial Cardinal Navy would normally have prevented this, much of the nation's might was pulled back to guard the major cities. Afterwards, the Masked flooded the west and conquered the passages, allowing their numbers to pour through fully. Ivory Lake A lake which divides the Ivory Mountains into two. Invaders have tried to cross into Cardinal through this lake, though a small fleet long fended off such attempts. When it had the authority to do so, the Cardinal Empire taxed merchants who shipped goods across the lake. This tax was often paid, as it was easily the quickest trade route between the city of Pool and the Cardinal Empire. After the invasion of the Masked, their crude ships are most all that sails across this small sea. It is fed from the Ivory Mountains, for which it is named. The Ivory River A river which drains the Ivory Lake into the sea, passing by several major cities of the Cardinal Empire along the way. This granted it similar importance in shipping to its source lake. Lake Quell A massive lake in the center of the continent. It served an important role in trade, with ships delivering cargo from one end to the other, saving days and even weeks of travel time. Wars have been fought over control of the lake for this reason. The Helices A pair of mountain ranges which encompass a great river valley. It serves as an impending obstacle to those trying to move quickly along Lake Quell. In the north, its peaks eventually give way to the impenetrable mess of wood and mountain known as the Highlands. The River Vale A river located between the two ranges of the Helices. Fed by the melted snow of the mountains and feeding into Lake Quell, the river served an important role in the shipment of goods from the northeast before the invasion of the Masked ended almost all trade. The Cardinal Empire Hide contents The empire which held the lands west of the Ivory Mountains. Though it was ruled by an emperor, power gradually and long ago shifted to the Oligarchy, a council of statesmen appointed by the governors of major cities to represent their interests. Diverse in its religion and cultures, these territories were united primarily by military conscription and a vague body of imperial law. Cardinal The former capital of the Cardinal Empire and the city for which it was named. The city's own name derives from its city square, where a large fountain lies in the center of four gigantic temples, each dedicated to one of the four goddesses and pointed in a different cardinal direction. Nortia's lies to the south, Philotes's to the east, Ceres's to the north, and Belladonna's to the west. Folk tales say the temple of Belladonna is placed either so as to be as far from the Auran peoples as possible, or so that its entrance always faces them. In all likelihood, neither is true, as these temples predate extensive contact between Cardinal and the Aurans. Origin A small city whose academy, the University of Origin, has trained many of Weal's greatest scholars. In addition to holding an extensive library, the city once tried to conquer the lands west of the Ivory Mountains in the 357th year. Their assault was halted at Cardinal, who then adopted the idea as their own, eventually forming the Cardinal Empire. Despite their military failure, Origin would go on to produce some of the most influential statesman and advisers of the empire's history, and remained a prominent center of learning until the invasion of the Masked. Bight An important trade hub and the makeshift capital of what remains of the Cardinal Empire. It lies next to Mount Night, whose volcanic soil has long produced rich harvests. As the destruction of Cardinal continued, more and more of its army retreated further and further, surrendering most of the land in fear. Bight now commands half of what Cardinal's army was before the invasion, a strong enough number to hold off the Masked along natural fortifications. Lode To the south of the mainland Cardinal Empire lies Red Clay Isle. Named for the red clay which most of its soil consists of, this island holds great mineral wealth. In the 820th year, Lode was established as a colony to oversee mining operations on the island. Bastion Located along the shores of Ivory Lake and against the side of the Ivory Mountains, Bastion served as a central component of the Cardinal Empire's border defense ever since said borders reached the mountains. In its prime, it was equal parts encampment and city. Its massive stone barracks held so many soldiers that supplying their needs was sufficient to generate a thriving economy, for both private enterprises and those hired by the state to supply equipment. The Auran Empire Hide contents A shared ethnic identity is not often a strong concept in Weal, found mainly among one group of peoples. These are the Aurans, native to the lands east of Lake Quell and south of the Helices. Their community is derived from a shared belief in their descent from Belladonna, goddess of war. The idea of a single Auran nation dates back to at least the 101st year, but this dream was only made a reality by the conquests of Medes I, who unified the various Auran city states into an empire, and whose own descendants would expand that empire to include "Vulgar Bloods," those who are not ethnically Auran and therefore have no divine blood. The Auran Empire had more consistent governance than the Cardinal Empire, and a more consistent culture as a result. The empire's promotion of Belladonna throughout its lands made her popular even among non-Aurans. Centuries of conquests forged a diverse empire. Differing peoples and religions have traditionally been tolerated, even if not entirely advantaged. Though the empire's elite maintain that a descendant of Belladonna should be over all the people of Weal, it has been very common for vulgarbloods, especially conquered monarchs, to be brought into the imperial bureaucracy. Even before the unification, Auran peoples banned slavery and animal sacrifices. The monarchy of these early city states, seeing themselves as divinely appointed due to their purer blood, engaged in an uncomfortable amount of incest to "preserve" the godliness in their bloodline. While slavery and blood sacrifices are still outlawed, the inbreeding was phased out a few generations after unification, and is now just something the Auran nobles would like you to forget about. Vulgarblood was once a slur. It was phased out, and then brought back into the common lexicon as a generally inoffensive slang. It is rarely used or taken as seriously derogatory outside of a few small sects, respectively Auran ethno-nationalists or adamant anti-Aurans, who sometimes adopt it as a title of pride. Burnish The former capital of the Auran Empire. It was considered a small and insignificant city state of backwards idiots before Medes I, Twelfth King of Burnish, launched a military campaign which united the Auran peoples and declared himself the First Emperor of the Aurans. His descendants continued to rule, sometimes nominally, from his original palace until the invasion of the Masked. Patronage brought many great thinkers to the city, though it was always overshadowed by the cultural significance of Hearth. Hearth In the 101st year, a small tribal kingdom began raiding its neighbors, capturing their people as slaves, and throwing them into a great fire as a sacrifice to Belladonna. It is said that Belladonna found this so appalling that she descended from the heavens and commanded it to be stopped. The Auran peoples obliged her, and have not kept slaves or made blood sacrifices since that day, or so the story goes. As a symbol of their dedication, the people of Hearth have kept that great fire burning through the centuries. This is the hearth for which the city is named, and it was once guarded by over a hundred soldiers every hour of the day so that miscreant children would not throw rats or bugs into it. During its prime, it was the undisputed capital of Auran culture, attracting many of its finest artists, scholars, and architects. Though many imperial building projects aimed to bring glory to Burnish, and did, Hearth always demanded the greatest attention and investment. Its strategic location at the mouth of the River Vale and on the shores of Lake Quell granted it extreme commercial importance, with numerous craftsman utilizing raw materials from upstream. Before the conquests of Medes I, it had been assumed that any attempt to unify the Aurans would spring forth from Hearth. Haven Named for its extremely defensible location, surrounded by the Helices and the River Vale. Its people lived primarily as farmers and shepherds, producing raw materials that were sent downstream to Hearth. However, it was much harder for finished goods to travel upstream to Haven, so only a small number of merchants truly reaped the benefits of this trade. Though a small city, Haven is larger than the numerous small villas which dot the River Vale's course, the security of its walls attracting many. Delta Formerly an important center of commerce located directly south of Lake Quell. Though mountains separate it from the heartland of the former Auran Empire, naval power allowed the unsuspecting city to be conquered early in the Empire's life, with its high hills and marshes keeping it a defensible asset up until the invasion of the Masked. Countless rivers drain from Lake Quell and the surrounding mountains, entering the sea in a delta which the city is built along and named for. Before the invasion, the upstream territories produces bountiful harvests which were exported across the continent, including absurd quantities of rice. Pool Pool existed as an independent city state until the 780th year, when it was forcibly turned into a client state of the Cardinal Empire. It was then conquered by the Aurans, taken by Cardinal, reconquered by the Auran Empire in the 861st year, and then overrun by the masked. Pool has always been pulled upon and influenced by numerous outside states, due to its location near the center of the continent. This has been a weakness as well as a strength, with the city becoming an important center for trade. Perhaps more important is how its central location brought together people from all nations, their ideas mixing together and the resulting innovations quickly spreading across the continent. Palisade Built into a cliff overlooking Ivory Lake, Palisade is a marvel of engineering and served as the Auran Empire's main defense on the Cardinal border. Not only beautifully decorated, it is so well defended that even the Masked could not overtake it, though its soldiers have been largely contained within the fortress by a ceaseless siege. It was famous for its ballista, which allowed the defenders to remain high above their enemies while still detracting from their numbers. It was commissioned during the third Auro-Cardinal War with the intention of intimidating the Cardinal Empire with both its invulnerability and the beauty of its statues and reliefs. The Great Gate Located on an island to the south of the former Auran Empire's heartland. The isle was conquered almost as an afterthought and was the most ignored province due to geographical separation and low strategic importance. The Masked now control it, but its population was always sparse, consisting mainly of native villagers, temporary pilgrims, and shrine keepers. The Gate has no ritual importance, but is still considered a sacred landmark, as it is said to be how the goddesses move between the moon and the terrestrial sphere. The Highlands Hide contents Writing and temples never took off in the Highlands- for every thousand Highlanders, maybe one will be able to read or write. Having produced very few records of themselves, Highlanders are seen as a mysterious people in a mysterious land. Though the Auran Empire completely surrounded the region, it was deemed too mountainous and too heavily wooded to conquer or administer, and so was left alone while nominally being claimed as a part of imperial territory. The most common speculation about them is perhaps the most truthful- the people live simple, traditional lives in small, isolated villages and tribes. Every ancient practice seems to be maintained by at least one group of Highlanders, including the primitive act of slave raids, though most towns have settled into a lazy peace with each other. Criminals and anarchists often flee the state's punishment or overbearing authority and go to live in the Highlands, and are very often accepted if they are not too disruptive to the extremely traditional ways. Though full temples are uncommon, piety is still found among the Highlanders. Shrines can be found in the center of towns and at the top of hills, and most villagers are dedicated to a single goddess. Patrons, like temples and writing, never became very popular in the Highlands. The Nations on Each Other Hide contents The following is from a letter written by an Auran merchant who sold sold rice in Cardinal during a time of peace: I know that mother has been very worried about the influence of these foreign customs on my well-being. Let her be assured that I remain strong in my faith to Mother Belladonna. These Cardinals are certainly an odd folk, though. Ask one what his people are, and he responds with his city or his family, few of the peasants even know the name of their emperor. Their names are formed in a peculiar way, to allow them to have more than one. Each person has a given name, but also a family name after that, which comes from their father. Some have yet more names following that- married women have the family name of their husbands, the wealthy have the name of their estate. They treat drink as a sort of taboo among their children, but are exceedingly indulgent with it among their friends. They drink no beer and become drunk only from the vine. It is often mulled with spices or sweetened with honey- It escapes my mind how anyone can handle so much of such a rich drink, but perhaps they cannot, for many among them become so drunk during festivities as to throw up all they consume. This lechery, I theorize, is why the men shave their faces, so they neither have to clean their beards nor refrain from such indulgence. Few have more than a week's growth, and some have taken such offense at my beard as to call me barbaric and dirty for having it. Speaking of wine, I have seen in my travels people who pour wine as well as oil as a libation before every meal, and others who have never made an offering at a temple after many years of life. There seems to be only zealots or atheists among them, and all of them unfaithful in their worship. Even those who do not follow Philotes make their marriage vows under her moon, even if they are supposed followers of Belladonna, who gives them the sun under which to make contract. Their meals are far too heavy, and lacking in spice or zest. A good lemon cannot be found in this place. Their citrus fruits are small, and hard, and bland. The following journal entry was made by a Cardinal mercenary who fought for Auran monarchy during the Auran Civil War: They are truly a quaint people, quite amusing in their dullness. Each of them has a name ending in "S." They do not notice this. Point it out to one of them, and they will neither believe you nor be able to disprove you. They only have one name, even in their census. Should that one name not be specific enough, as is often the case, they specify with the name of their father or husband or town- a proper family name would do them wonders, but they seem to think the idea an unnecessary and preposterous one. Their appearances are in such disrepair, whatever attractiveness might be found in their faces is hidden by the dust they too rarely wash off and the hairs they never shave, only trim to what they hilariously call a "reasonable" length. They manage to make drink boring- they sip at beer throughout the day, but never at wine, and even their young boys and girls do this, yet never do any of them seem to get drunk. You would at least think such a number of such devout Belladons would have exciting wars, but they are so stoic about it that I'm surprised they don't fall asleep in battle! It is that, not Belladonna's favor, that I suspect is the reason they only fight during the day. Even the vigor of noble Belladonna they seem to forgo to emphasize her role as mother of their people, having her put away the club for the mother bird's perch. Speaking of Belladonna and mothers, I find it novel that they hold their marriages during the day, under her sun, excepting those few Philoteans among them, who do so properly under the moon. How unfitting, since they seem incapable of having their blood boil enough to have a proper war between husband and wife- the women are so demure, no spunk! Even their dancers, talented beauties though they be, are as dry as boards left in the sun. That reminds me of an odd quirk of their food, besides their eating so many damned lemons and limes and oranges. Instead of making a proper bread, the cooks for the army just make dough, and leave it to the soldiers to cook it by stretching it across an iron shield and placing it on the fire. It has a nice, chewy texture, but they often ruin it with an overabundance of toppings. Lamb and beef and beets and carrots and cheese and pineapples all at once, the one time something of theirs would benefit from their plainness! No humor! Oh, my best jokes go over their heads like the arrows of the rebels! Religious Practice Hide contents In addition to spiritual responsibilities, priests serve as healers, and provide food to the poor and teaching to the illiterate. Most temples are organized about a large, candlelit prayer chamber. Since temples are found primarily in cities, those living in rural areas make fewer visitations bearing larger offerings. They might also utilize wayside shrines or traveling priests. Cardinal lets religious practice be handled at a local level. Priests live off of offerings, and the Cardinal army conscripts religious offices. They consider animal sacrifice the most sincere and sacred sort of offering. The Auran Empire took a more active role in its peoples' religion. The emperor served as head of the church and had the oft-deferred power of appointing important positions within it, and all priests had to undergo standardized certification. Though tolerant of other creeds, the Aurans see themselves as descendants of Belladonna and thus promoted her worship especially. The state built temples to Belladonna and offered tax cuts to those who gave to them. Clergymen in her service received a fixed wage from the empire, though they could also accept offerings. Traveling priests were often paid to patrol certain routes, and martial priesthood was a viable profession. The Auran Empire strictly prohibited animal sacrifice, though very few Auran priests are vegetarians. Patrons do not have temples, only shrines, which are sometimes found in a temple of their associated goddess. Animal sacrifices are almost never made to a Patron. Most people will follow one entity throughout their life, usually the one who most benefits their profession. As most people inherit their parents' trade, they also inherit their faith. To beseech multiple goddesses and patrons is not unheard of, but is considered improper and excessive, with one exception: servants of Ceres might also serve Tamerlane, seeing them as working together to produce and harvest bountiful crops. Shrines to Tamerlane are more commonly found in temples to Ceres compared with other patron-goddess pairs. Additional Information: Hide contents The Auro-Cardinal Wars and Related Historical Events Leading to the Present Hide contents 793rd Year- The Auran Empire under Mithradates II, called "the Iron Emperor," completes its conquests of the lands north of Lake Quell and east of the Ivory Mountains. This is the inevitable moment in which their lands now border those of the Cardinal Empire, which controls the city of Pool and other lands west of the lake. Tensions immediately arise between the two expansionist powers. 796th Year- The First Auro-Cardinal War breaks out after an attempt by the Auran Empire to enforce taxes on Cardinal vessels traveling Lake Quell. 801st Year- A peace treaty is signed in which the Cardinal Empire gives up claims to the lands north of Ivory Lake. 827th Year- The Second Auro-Cardinal War breaks out following the Cardinal Empire seizing control of plains settlements lost during the First Auro-Cardinal War. 834th Year- A peace treaty is signed, granting the Cardinal Empire restored control over territory lost in the First Auro-Cardinal War, as well as all lands west of Lake Quell. 836th Year- The embarrassment of the Auran Empire's defeat, combined with mounting taxes, drought, and an increasingly corrupt and obtuse aristocracy, lead to the outbreak of the Auran Civil War. With many of both the local nobles and the peasantry siding against the monarchy, the emperor is short on men, but refuses to higher mercenaries from Cardinal. 837th Year- Emperor Arses dies in battle against the rebels and is usurped by his young son Mithradates IV the Great. His military and domestic reforms are countless, but included hiring Cardinal mercenaries who had fought against the emperor only a few short years ago. The young monarch manages to reestablish order and some semblance of prosperity. 860th Year- An aging Mithradates IV takes advantage of a complacent Cardinal Empire and initiates the Third Auro-Cardinal War. 868th Year- After five years of the front being frozen along the Azure Mountains, a worn down Cardinal Empire declares peace with the Auran Empire, surrendering all land east of said mountains. Important Historical Figures Hide contents Archelaus (???-???): Nothing is known about him what Empedocles quoted him as saying. He seems to have been a follower of Nortia and was likely contemporary to Empedocles, but it's hard to say for certain. Empedocles (???-381): His birth year is unknown, but he was in his fifties when he died. He was a young man when Charlemagne was appointed Patron of Nortia, and was inspired by this historic event to record the religious traditions of Weal. The result of years of travel and research was Divinities, a codex considered the definitive source of religious history. Though the original copy is lost, it is the oldest work whose text is preserved in Weal. Empedocles was a follower of Philotes and a vegetarian, based on posthumous accounts which mocked him for these things and his death. He was a native of Bight, which was a mere town during his lifetime. He refused to evacuate when Mt. Night erupted, believing Philotes would protect him. He died on that day. The traditional model of morality, as outlined in Divinities, includes four virtues, each associated with a specific goddess. Ceres is compassion, Belladonna is courage, Nortia is impartiality, and Philotes is loyalty. Only by having all four of these virtues, as well as the fifth virtue of piety, can one be considered moral. Roswitha(505-566): A monk who lived near what is now Palisade. She codified many later religious traditions and popularized many theological stances, though her work is considered less definitive than Divinities. Smaller contributions of hers include finalizing the associations between card suites and deities (which are not mentioned in Divinities) and determining the ship Hanno's ship to be Belladonna's. She also worked on a controversial ethical quandary, the Question of Perfection. The Question of Perfection asks why the Four are to be venerated when they embody only one virtue and why piety is virtuous if none of them are pious. The idea behind the classical virtues was that they were good because their association with a goddess, so this question was of some importance. Roswitha put forward the idea that being moral meant displaying one virtue and venerating the goddess associated with it, which has achieved moderate popularity among progressive practitioners of hermeneutics. Controversially among the Aurans, she argued that each daughter of Belladonna had a different father Terrence the Atheist (547-607): A playwright from Cardinal. His heretical beliefs cost him a promising career in civil service, so he turned his education and writing talent to the stage. Despite his disbelief in religious traditions, Terrance was an arch-conservative who blamed religious reinterpretation for the the degradation he perceived in society. Odes (750-797): A religious scholar and ambassador from the Auran Empire who produced the Standard Auran Texts. These are the most recent and comprehensive versions of religious history which were used by the Auran government. Though the events are largely the same as in Divinities, Odes felt it necessary to produce an account which properly credited Belladonna, unlike the Cardinal-derived texts that had been standard up to that point. According to Odes, Belladonna best embodied each of the four classical virtues. Compassionate and impartial because she remained to aid humanity and could love a human. Loyal by her motherhood and devotion as a wife to one man. In writing the Standard Auran Texts, Odes made very clear that Belladonna's four daughters had one father. He named this man Oxin and standardized the naming of his daughters by Belladonna, the traditions of which varied from region to region. Aura, the divine light (universally agreed upon) Pyre, the light of fire (fairly common throughout the empire at that point) Luster, the sheen of gold and silver (fairly common throughout the empire at that point) Tempest, the light of lightning (still somewhat of a contested pick) Odes was ambassador to the Cardinal Empire leading up the First Auro-Cardinal War. He was executed for failing to secure a peaceful arrangement between the two nations. Though the war would end up being successful for the Auran Empire, there initially great skepticism about fighting an equally powerful nation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) Having seen Butter continue his way to the bridge, Karen saw the others were likewise making their way there too. Well, Noelle simply flew overheard; but with her wyvern obviously she didn't need to. All this made Karen wonder: Should I as well? On one hand, there wasn't much she could do staying on this side of the creek, specially if Butter was able to reach it before the monsters did. On the other hand, she still had reservations on getting too close to potential fighting. Perhaps only up to the creek itself and observe? She considered. That should be a good start. Karen observed the woods that lay nearby. They didn't covered a very big area, nor was it too dense. Though they would still slow down anyone trying to pass through. Maybe I should stick to the edge? She thought. So she did. She moved by the edge of the trees until she was at the bank of the creek. From this vantage she could finally see the creatures properly; and first thing that came to view was... A b-bael!? The sight of the giant spider quickly made her hide behind the nearest tree. It just had to be a giant spider. Come on now, Karen, you need to calm down, she told herself, taking a deep breath. The others will certainly strike it down. The reassuring was failing to do much, so she resorted to what have always worked for her: sing. Too caught up in her panic, she hadn't noticed Cantus had stopped nearby; and thus be in range to hear her. Well, so long it would benefit them both, even if in different ways, so be it. [Karen moves to G-7 and Sings to Cantus. EXP +11!] Edited March 20, 2020 by Acacia Sgt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengaius Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) Belated commentary. Butter attacks the skeleton “Shatter beneath me!" Toki almost falls “Uh oh, Toki's lookin pretty beat up, this ain't great. " MDs show up Gah! How many of these damnable fiends are there? Edited March 20, 2020 by Pengaius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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